Two-shuttle pick and pick shuttle changing loom



Sept. 9, 1952 R. G. TURNER 2,609,845

TWO-SHUTTLE PICK AND PICK SHUTTLE CHANGING LOOM Filed March 20, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Ric/MR0 a. TURNER QZMWM ATTORNEY Sept. 9, 1952 R. G. TURNER 2,609,845

TWO-SHUTTLE PICK AND PICK SHUTTLE CHANGING LOOM Filed March 20, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.2

INV'ENTOR R/CHA ho a. TURNER ATTORNEY Sept. 9, 1952 R. G.TURNER 2,609,845

TWO-SHUTTLE PICK AND PICK SHUTTLE CHANGING LOOM Filed March 20, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 all:

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'INVENTOR RICHARD a. TURNER ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 9, 1952 TWO-SHUTTLE PICK AND PICK SHUTTLE CHANGING LOOM Richard G. Turner, Worcester, Mass, assignor to Crompton & Knowles Loom Works, Worcester, MESS}, a corporation of Massachusetts 7 Application March 20, 1948, Serial No; 16,065

22 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements inplck and pick shuttle changing looms employing two shuttles only each of which after being active for but one pick is followed by the other shuttlewhich is also active for but one picks In the weaving of certain fabrics it is desirable that single picks of one type of weft alternate with single picks of another type. Thus, a fabric may have single picks of an-artificial weftalternating with single picks ofyelastic weft. It is the general purpose of the present invention to provide a loom operating with but two weaving shuttles each of which can be automatically replaced by a similar shuttle drawn selectively from a magazine at one side of the loom having two stacks of reserve shuttles similar to the Weaving shuttles.

In the well known weft replenishing pick and pick looms employing three shuttles each shuttle is inactive for two successive picks and the re-- plenishing interval occupies the greater part of the time the shuttle is inactive. Such looms are not adapted to operation with but two shuttles since each of the latter can beinactive forbut one pick and there is not enough time for a replenishing interval requiring more than one pick. It has also been proposed to operate a shuttle changing loom pick and pick with but two shuttles wherein a single stack magazine is located at'each side of the loom. In such a loom the expense of the additional magazine is considerable and too much time for efficient operation is required on the part of the weaver and loom fixerto'keep the maga- Zines in proper running condition.

It is an importantobject of the present invention to provide a two shuttle pick and pick shuttle changing loom having at one end thereof a magazine provided with two stacks of diverse reserve shuttles, one stack for each of the two weaving shuttles, and employ operating mechanism therefor which can effect a shuttle change within the time available in such a loom.

Heretofore I have proposed a well known shuttle changing loom having a sing1e-two-stack magazine at one end of the loom and wherein each of two weaving shuttles is inactive for at least two successive picks. Such looms are built with two levers and a cam for themoperating in a two-pick cycle and effective upon indication of weft exhaustion by the weft detector toreplace a depleted shuttle with a similar shuttle drawn from the magazine during a-period occupying the greater part of two picks. In the present invention I use the two stack reserve shuttle magazine, but the cam and one of the levers are omitted. l

The weft detecting mechanism is preferably located at the side ofthe loom opposite the magazinc and includes electric feelers of the so-called over and under typemountedon the lay. In a pick and pick loomoperating with but two shuttles the gang of boxes at the detecting side of the loom and the shuttles operate in four pick sequences during each of which both shuttles are at that end ofthe loom and two indications of weft exhaustion could be given by the feelers on successive picks. The shuttle boxes at the magazine end, however, would not be in the correct position to complete an initiated change for the second of these picks if a change has been initiated on the first pick.

It is another important object of my present invention to'provide a control for thgweftdetectors or feelers such that one feeler only can indicate weft exhaustion during one four-pick sequence and the other feeler only can indicate in thenext sequence. When the weft detectors are of the-electrical type thecontrol may conveniently take the form of a switch which first closes one branch circuit for one of the feelersduring one four-pick sequencaand then breaks that circuit and completesanother' branch circuit for the other feeler duringthe'nextfour-pick sequence. This control is of particular use with the preferred form of the invention utilizing two feelers, and is not-necessary with the modified form which uses only one feeler.

It is another important object of the invention to derive all of the power required for the actual shuttle changing operation from a pattern mechanism, thus eliminating previously used cams. In the description which follows the Well-known Knowles head is described for this purpose, but I do not wish to be limited to this type of pattern mechanism.

Since the magazine has two stacks of reserve shuttles selector mechanism must be employed and it is a further object-0f the invention to provide means operated by thehead motion, such as a vibrator lever, to control the selectormec'hanism independently of theshifting shuttle boxes. This samevibrator lever can also be'used to control the aforesaid detector circuits of the we ferred form of the invention. l

With these and other objects inview which will appear as the description proceeds, my invention residesin the'combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and set forth. In the accompanying drawings, wherein two forms of the invention are-shown,

Figal is a front elevation of a loom having-the preferred form of the invention applied" thereto,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation looking in the direction of arrow 2, Fig. 1, parts being in section, and the head motion being omitted,

Fig. 3 is a detailed structural view partly in section showing part of the controller in the head for the electric circuits,

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view showing a series of successive shuttle boxes and shuttle positions occurring in the eight pick cycle of the loom according to the preferred form of the invention,

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view showing the electric circuit for the weft detector used with the preferred form,

Fig. 6 is an enlarged diagrammatic plan view of part of the head motion showing the several vibrator levers and the related parts,

Fig. 7 is a diagram of the draft of the preferred pattern chain of the pattern mechanism which controls the vibrator levers,

Fig. 8 is a View similar to Fig. 4 but showing the modified form of the invention,

Fig. 9 is similar to Fig. '7 but shows the modified draft of pattern chain,

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic view of the electric circuit used with the modified form of the invention, and

Fig. 11 is a detail elevation looking in the direction of arrow I, Fig. 1, parts being omitted.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, the loom frame In supports a lay H which is driven backwardly and forwardly by connectors l2 one of which is shown in Fig. 2. These connectors are driven by the top shaft l3 of the loom rotating once for each pick of the loom and having secured thereto a gear l4 meshing with another gear |5 of twice its size secured to the bottom shaft IS.

The lay includes shifting shuttle boxes at each end thereof, the gangs RG and LG being, respectively, at the right and left ends of the lay. The right gang has upper, intermediate and lower boxes or cells 20, 2| and 22, respectively, while the gang LG has upper and lower boxes or cells 23 and 24, respectively.

The loom operates with'but two weaving shuttles SI and S2 which carry distinctive wefts one of which may if desired be elastic. The shuttles run pick and pick, that is, each shuttle after being active for but one pick is followed by the other shuttle. Picker sticks 25 are shown as part of the picking mechanism by which the shuttles are propelled across the loom.

The pattern mechanism for determining the movements of the shuttle boxes is the well-known Knowles head K including upper and lower gear cylinders or driving parts 21 and 28 which rotate continuously and oppositely in the directions indicated by the arrows, Fig. 1, during loom operation. Located between the cylinders are vibrator gears which are mounted on vibrator levers the vertical position of which is determined by a pattern chain 30. The vibrator levers will be described in greater detail hereinafter. The chain is supported on a cylinder 3| which preferably turns continuously in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1 during loom operation, moving a fresh bar to control position under the vibrators each pick.

The head motion K is provided with a heel pin 32 on which the vibrator levers pivot, and is equipped with the usual lock knife 33 which rocks about its axis 34 in timed relation with the operation of the loom to lock and unlock the right hand ends of the vibrator levers, see Fig. 1. The lock knife will be in the normal or lookin position shown in Fig. 1 to lock the vibrator levers when the vibrator gears are being turned by the cylinders 21 and 28. Upon completion of a partial rotation of the vibrator gears the lock knife moves to the right from the position shown in Fig. 1 to unlocking position with respect to the vibrator, levers and chain 3|! presents a new bar under the vibrator levers which determines their 1 vertical position for the next pick of the loom.

The shuttle box gang LG is supported by a lifter rod 35 connected to a flexible lifter, such as a chain 35, trained over lay carried sheaves 3i and then down around a sheave 38 and then up over a sheave 39 and thence to the right around a sheave 40 which in the present instance will have a stationary axis, see Fig. 11. The chain 36 leads to the left from sheave 40 and is attached to a box lever 4| moving about a fixed pivot 42 and attached at its upper end to a vibrator connector 43 pivotally connected to a vibrator gear 44 rotatable on a vibrator lever 45. In the present instance the vibrator lever 45 is the only one in the head K which is operatively connected to the gang LG, and the lever 4| can be either in the left hand position shown in Fig. 1 to exert a pull on flexible connector 36 to lift gang LG to its high position so that cell 24 thereof will be active, or it can be to the right after its vibrator gear 44 has been given a partial rotation, thereby permitting the boxes LG to descend to their low position with cell 23 active.

The gang RG has a lifter rod '50 connected to a flexible lifter, such as a chain 5|, trained over lay carried sheaves 52 and thence under a sheave 53 and then up over a sheave 54. The chain 5| extends around a movable sheave 55 which is at the lower end of a box lever 56 having a stationary pivot 51. The upper end of lever 56 is attached to a connector 58 the vibrator gear 59 of which is on another vibrator lever 60, see Fig. 6. The chain 5| extends to the left from sheave 55 and is connected to a box lever 6| mounted on pivot 42 and having its upper end attached to a connector 62 the vibrator gear 63 of which is mounted on another vibrator lever 64.

The levers 56 and BI enable the shuttle boxes RG to assume three positions, but during normal loom running operation when a shuttle changing operation is not called box lever 56 will be stationary in the position shown in Fig. l and lever 6| will rock back and forth. When lever 6| is in its right hand position and lever 55 is rocked to a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1, sheave 55 will move to the right, and because it acts as a movable pulley with respect to the chain 5|, gang RG will be given a two-box lift to its highest position with cell 22 active. This two-box lift will occur only when sheave 55 moves to its right hand position incident to a shuttle changing operation.

The right hand end of the loom as shown in Fig. 1 is provided with a reserve shuttle magazine M having a front stack 65 of reserve shuttles R| similar to weaving shuttle SI, and having a second rear stack 65 of reserve shuttles R2 similar to weaving shuttle S2. The magazine has a normally empty common transfer compartment 61 below the lowermost reserve shuttle R| and in front of the lowermost reserve shuttle R2.

The release of a shuttle from the front stack 55 is controlled by a lever 68 the rear end of which is connected to a depending rod 69 attached at its lower end to a hook or shuttle releaser 70, see Fig. 2. Whenever this hook is de- 5. pressed the lowermost shuttle RI the front stack falls into the compartment 61 and on a support II secured to and extending rearwardly from thejlay at a'time prior to arrival of the lay at its back center positionon shuttlechanging beats or picks of the loom.

If 'a replenishing operation" is to involve the lowest shuttle R2 in the rear stacka lever I2 will be rocked in a clockwise direction, Fig. 2, against the action of spring 13 to move forwardly a plunger I4'iri back of the lowest shuttle R2. Lever I2 is operatively connected to a second depending rod 15 attached at its lower end to a which will cause forward movement of 'the plunger 14 so that the lowest shuttle R2 will be moved highest position aroll I9 on the cover moves up the cam and the cover is raised to enable the shuttle on support II to fall int the box cell 26.

As the lay moves forwardly from its back center position the cover '8 returns to its normal position.

The magazine may be substantially as shown in my prior Patent No. 2,054,171 and other patents issued tome relative to two-color shuttle changing looms. It is thought sufficient for the present description to state that depression of hook I0 or 16 will result in transfer of a corresponding reserve shuttle from th magazine into the box cell 28 when the gang RG is in its high est position and the lay is on back center.

The weft detectors 80 and BI are secured to the lay at the head end of the loom opposite the magazine M and are of the well-known over and under electric type. The weaving shuttles carry bobbins having metallic ferrules which when uncovered due to depletion of weft are capable of electrically connecting the prong 82 of their respective feelers. Detection is effected by motion ofthe gang LG, and when the latter is up feeler 80 detectsthe weft of shuttle SI if the latter is in box 23, and when the gang LG is down feeler BI detects theweft of shuttle S2 ifthe latter is in box 24. Cells 23 and .24 are home boxes, respectively, for shuttles SI and S2.

So far as the shuttles and gangs RG and LG are concerned the loom operates on an eight-pick cycle comprising two successive four-pick sequences shown diagrammatically in Fig. 4. The gang LG shifts every pick of the loom when the lay is in the forward part of its motion and is down, on the odd numbered picks represented by positions I, III, V and VII to make box cell 23 active, and. is up on the other or even numbered picks of the cycle to make cell 24 active. The picking mechanism operates at both end of the loom on each pick so that any shuttle. in active position at either end of the loom will be picked.

The gang RG will be in its second or intermediate position during the first pick of the first four-pick sequence of the eight-pick cycle with box cell 2| active as indicated at position I, Fig. l. Under. normalconditions gang RG will be down with cell 20 active for the next two picks shown in positions II and III, and will again be in intermediate, position on the fourth pick, as in position IV. In the second four-pick sequence the ang HG will shift in an order the reverse of second hook or shuttle releaser I6 depression of i the order for theflrst sequence, that is, cell 28 will normally be active in'po'sitions V and VIII, while cell 2| will always be active. for positions VI and VII. Thisshifting of the boxes RG is that, which isnormally determined by the vibrator lever t iand the box lever BI on nonreplenishing picks or beats'of the loom.

The vibrator lever '60, which is normally down throughout the eight-pick cycle, is under control of a solenoid 83 secured to a stationary part of the head Kand' normally deenergized so that itslcore 184 is down. Since vibrator lever 50 is normally down sheave 55 and box lever 56 wi l ordinarily be inactive and as shown in Fig. 1.

' The electric circuits for controlling the solenoid 83 are shown in Fig. 5. One side or prong 82 of'each detector. is grounded as at 85. The other side or prongs of the detectors and BI are electrically connected by two branch circuits to contacts 8% and 81, respectively, of a switch 88, see Fig. 3, which can engage the contacts one at a time for connection t one or the other of the branch circuits. Switch 88 is permanently connected electrically to initiating coil 89 of a relay designated at Qil. Spring 9| normally holds armature 92 of coil 89 away from a contact 93, but when coil 89 is energized its armature is raised to engage contact 93 and is held in raised position by a spring actuated hook $4 on armature $5 of a normally deenergized releasing coil 96. Closure of holding contact 93 by armature 92 electrically connects solenoid 83 with a source of electric power E in a holding circuit, see H, Fig. 5, and the solenoid will remain energized to keep vibrator lever 60 raised until releasing coil 96 is energized to open the holding circuit.

Mounted on cam 11 or some other fixed part of magazine M is a normally open switch 97 having an arm 98 which will be engaged by roll 40 It to close switch fil as the roll moves up cam H on shuttle changing beats of the loom as the lay approaches back center and after gang RG has been shifted to its highest position. Energization of coil 96 causes it to attract armature and move hook 94 away from armature 92, whereupon the latter moves away from contact as and the solenoid will be deenergizecl due to opening of the holding circuit H. Roll I9 is not the only means available for closing switch 91, but it is a part moving incident to a shuttle changing operation after vibrator connector 53 has completed its motion and can conveniently be used for this purpose.

Switchtt is controlled by vibrator lever Hi9 having a vibratorgear Ill! and a connector ")2,

and will be down in the full line position of Fig. 3 for the first four picks of the eight-pick cycle and will be up in the dotted line position for the second four-pick sequence. Vertical column I-ID of Fig. 7 shows four low and four high rolls I03 and HM, respectively, to position the vibrator lever I00.

The hooks If? and "I6 shift to the right and left, Fig. 2, undercontrol of a selector lever I05 through the upper arm I06 of which the hooks pass. Lever I 05 is attached to a flexible connector I03 extending upwardly therefrom and over sheave I09 and then to the opposite side of the loom for attachment to a lever I I0, which is connected. to and moved by connector I02. Spring III tends to turn lever I05 counterclockwise, Fig. 2, to hold the hooks in the. rear position shown in Fig. 2. l

. I A lever IIZ rockable on a fixed axis has an operating or actuator pin II3 on the rear end thereof for the releasers I and 16. The forward end of lever II2'is attached to a flexible connector H4 extending across the loom and attached to lever 56.

In describing the operation of the loom it will be assumed that both shuttles are depleted of weft so that two shuttle changing operations will occur during the eight-pick cycle. It will be further assumed that shuttle SI will be the first one to be picked, that hook I0 will be under pin H3, that the circuits of Fig. 5 are dead, and that switch 88 is down to engage contact 86 of feeler 80 due to a low roll I03 being under vibrator lever I00. Sheave 55 will be to the left, Fig. l, and gang RG will start on a normal series of shifts as determined by high and low rolls H5 and H6, respectively, in vertical column MS of Fig. '7. Gang LG will shift under control of the alternating high and low rolls H1 and H8, respectively, of vertical column HS of Fig. 7.

The two shuttles SI and S2 will be picked as indicated in Fig. 4 on the successive picks IVIII of the eight-pick cycle. The positions shown in Fig. 4 are those which the boxes occupy at the top center position of the lay, or the positions at the beginning of a flight of one or the other of the shuttles due to operation of the picking mechanism 25.

In position I, Fig. 4, shuttle SI will be picked from gang RG toward box 23 of gang LG when the lay is on the first top center position of the eight-pick cycle. At this time the lock knife 33 moves to unlocking position so that the vibrator levers can shift. At the following bottom center position (not shown) shuttle SI will be boxed in cell 23, the lock knife will be in the locking position, and the head mechanism K will then effect up shifting of gang LG to move shuttle SI to inactive position for one pick, and lower gang RG so that cell is active. This shifting will be completed at top center, position II. When in this position shuttle SI will be detected and feeler 80 will indicate exhaustion. Current will flow through contact 86 of switch 88 and initiating coil 80 will be energized with resultant closure of the holding circuit and energization of solenoid 83 and rising of vibrator lever00. At the following bottom center head cylinder 21 will start to turn vibrator gear 59, and at the next top center, position III, connector 58 will have been fully moved to the left, Fig. 1, thereby rocking sheave 55 to the right and lift ing gang RG to its highest position, see dotted lines, position III, Fig. 4.

Lever 53 when moved by connector 58 also exerts a pull on flexible chain H4 connected thereto to cause downward movement of pin H3. Hook I0, being held under pin H3 by connector I02 because vibrator lever I00 is still over a low roll I03, is depressed by pin H3 and lever 68 rocks to release lowest shuttle RI. These motions are completed at top center, position III, and shuttle SI is picked toward cell 22. At back center new shuttle RI enters top raised cell 20 and at bottom center old shuttle SI enters cell 22. By the next top center, position IV, gang RG drops to mid position and shuttle S2 is picked toward cell 2|. pick sequence.

During the shuttle changing operation roll I9 moves up cam TI and closes switch 91, thereby energizing coil 96 to release armature 92 to open the holding circuit on the solenoid. The latter thereupon becomes deenergized and that part of the circuit of Fig. 5 to the right of switch 88 This completes the first four-' returns to normal condition in readiness for another shuttle changing operation.

The second four-pick sequence starts with position V 'inwhich the new shuttle SI is picked toward its home box or cell 23. A high roll I04 is now under vibrator lever I00, resulting in movement of hook 16 under pin H3 and movement of switch 88 to the dotted line position of Figs. 3 and 5 into engagement with contact 81. Vertical column MS at the left of Fig. 7 indicates that the order of high and low rolls H5 and H6 is reversed during the second sequence from what it was during the first sequence, and there will be a corresponding change in the normal shifting of gang RG.

When shuttle SI is in top cell 23 as indicated in position VI feeler could indicate weft exhaustion but the indication would not be completed because switch 88 is out of engagement with contact 86. In position VII shuttle S2 is'in detecting position, and since it is assumed to be depleted of weft, feeler 8I can complete an indication of weft exhaustion through contact 81.

Shuttle changing operations will then ensue similar to those already described, except that hook It will be depressed to move lowest reserve shuttle R2 onto support -I'I. The solenoid will again lift Vibrator lever 60 and in position VIII gang RG will again rise to its highest position, see the dotted lines.

The start of the next eight-pick cycle will be similar to position I, and on the following pick new shuttle S2-will be picked toward cell 24 and old shuttle S2 will be ejected by forward motion of the lay when the latter is on front center.

The pattern chain 30 is of usual construction except for the arrangement of the high and low rolls, and vertical columns designated at l-IS, HD, MD and MS, corresponding to head end single box shift, head end double box shift (not used herein as already mentioned), magazine end double box shift, and magazine end single box shift, respectively. Column MD is composed entirely of low rolls I20 so that vibrator lever 60 may be down at all times except when raised by the solenoid 83. The dotted large circles I2I and I22 correspond to the dotted line positions of gang RG in positions III and VIII, Fig. 4. In Fig. 7 the horizontal rows of high and low rolls are indicated at IVIII, since they correspond to similar positions in Fig. 4.

The reason for switch 88 will be apparent from position III, Fig. 4, in which shuttle S2 is in detecting position. If feeler 8| should indicate at this time a replenishing sequence would start and require gang RG to be fully up in position IV. In thi last position, however, a fresh shuttle RI will be in top cell 20, and under these conditions a shuttle changing operation for shuttle S2 could not occur. Switch 88 prevents completion of an indication by feeler 8| at this time, and the latter cannot give a complete indication until a high-roll I04 moves under vibrator lever I00.

In shuttle changing looms heretofore proposed by me and shown in the previously mentioned patents there is employed a cam on the bottom shaft I6 operating in two-pick time. Such looms areordinarily employed with a shuttle which remains active for at least two successive picks, and there is therefore time for extending the replenishing operation over the greater part of a two-pick interval. It will be noted from Fig. 4, however, that replenishment is initiated in position II, which is an even numbered position, and

also :posi-tion VII, which is an odd numbered position. The two-pick cam heretofore used in shuttle changing looms could therefore not be used injt'he present instance, since if it started its operations on an even numbered pick it would not be in correct position to start a replenishing operation on an 'odd numbered pick. It is for this reason that I utilize the head K, whichoperates onone pick time with .the cylinders 21 and 28 completing a rotationseach pick, as a source of power to shiftthe boxes RG preparatory to a shuttle changing operation, depress the operat-- ing pin M3,;and control switch 88; By. having the pin M3 controlled so that it can start down on any pick, whether even. or odd, I am able to initiate a replenishing operation on the. second and seventh picks of the eight-pick cycle.

The look knife 33 has been described herein as being :in looking position during the time gangs RG and LG shift and could therefore be utilized to hold vibrator lever til up in place of the holding circuit H shown in Fig. 5. The older forms of Knowles head mechanism K required the lock knife to perform the function of supporting a raised vibrator during box shifting, but later forms of the head mechanism are made so as to relievethe lock knife of this work, principally because it was found that wearing of the upper surface of the lock knife resulted in inaccurate positioning of the vibrator levers. It is because of the present construction of theKnowles head that I prefer to use the holding circuit, but I do not wish necessarily to be limited to such a circuit as a mean for holding vibrator lever 60 in raised position, sincethe lock knife could be used for that purpose. r a a In the modified form of the invention shown in Figs. 8 to a single weft detector is used at the head end of the loom, and the two shuttles, instead of having home boxes as in the preferred form, enter the top cell at the headend alternately so that the condition of weft of each shuttle can be determined bythe single detector. This requiresa change in, the pattern chainand also simplifies the electric circuit.

Referring to Fig. 8 which shows a cycle of eight successive picks or positions I-VIII, it will be seen that the gang LG, instead of shifting every picko'f the .loom, shifts during two successive four-pick sequences such that the order of shifting in the first sequence is the reverse of the shifting in the second sequence. 'Thus, gang LG shifts each pickof. the first four-pick sequence which ends with the gang in high position IV, but at the start of the second four-pick sequence in position V'gang LG will remain up, but will shift each pickthereafter of the second sequence.

The twoshuttles S3 and S4, corresponding to shuttles Si and S2 of the preferred form, .Wlll enter the uppercell 123 asIindicated in Fig. 8, that is, shuttle stain be incellziiin position II and shuttle SE will. be in cell .23 in position VII. This enables the single weft detector I to detect both shuttles, and it will be noted that shuttle S3 is detected once during the first fourpick sequence and shuttle S4 is detected once during the second four-pick sequence. Unlike the preferred form of the invention the detector I25 can indicate only twice during the eightpick cycle and it is therefore. not necessary to employ the selector switch 88. Instead, the circuit shown in Fig. 10 can be used in which the detector I25 will be directly and permanently connected to one side of the initiating coil 89 of the relay 90. In other respects the circuit for the modified form of the invention will be the same as that described for the prefer-red form;

The draft of the chain to be used with the modified form is shown in Fig. 9, the picks corresponding to the bars or the chain, or the hori zontal rows of indicators, being designated at I'VIII' similar to the draft of chain for the preferred form. In Fig. 9 it will be noted that vertical columns MS, MD and HD are the same as in the preferred form and the corresponding vibrator levers will be moved in the same manher as that described for the preferred form. The right hand vertical column in Fig. 9 is different from the corresponding column in Fig. 7 and is designated at HS. This column has low and high indicator rolls I26 and I21, respectively, to give the gang LG its modified order of shifting. i

The selector for the shuttle 'release'rs will be controlled by the indicators in vertical column H'D as in the preferred form, and if shuttle S3 should indicate on pick II a shuttle from the front stack in the magazine would be involved in a shuttle changing operation to replace shuttleSB', the low indicators in column HD efa fecting registry of the actuator pin H3 with the shuttle relea-ser corresponding to the front shuttle stack. Similarly, if shuttle S4 should indicate on pick VII a high indicator H34 in column HD would have shifted the selector so that the shuttle releaser for the rear stack registers with the actuator 1 l3. As in the preferred form, column I-ID preserves the correct registry of the shuttle releasers with respect to pin H3 during shifting of the gang LG. As in the preferred form the holding circuit H will be opened to deenergize solenoid 83 when a shuttle changing op- 'ereition occurs.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a shuttle changing loom operating with two'weaving shuttles running pick and pick each of which can be replacedby a similar reserve shuttle drawn from a two-stack magazine at one end of the loom. It will also be noted that the power required for shifting the gang RG, controlling the selector lever I 05, and moving switch 88 is derived from a pattern mechanism which operates each pick of the loom, such as the head mechanism K. Because of the fact that the latter is so built that it operates on one pick time, shuttle changing operations can be initiated by the feelers on either even or odd numbered picks of the eight-pick cycle. Each vibrator lever, its gear and connector can be considered as a vibrator lever means which when raised or lowered as the case may be, operates the part connected thereto. Also, the detectors and 3! are able to indicate weft exhaustion in their respective] feelers twice duringeach eight-pick cycle, but the low and high rolls in column I-ID, Fig. 7, permits only one of the feelers to indicate weft exhaustion during the first four-pick sequence and permits the other feeler only to indicate during the second four-pick sequence. Furthermore, the selector lever I05 for the shuttle releasers or hookslll and T5 is not connected to gang LG as is usual in shuttle changing looms, but is controlled by the high and low rolls H33 and [M which control switch 88. It is for this reason that gang LG can shift from position II to position III, Fig. 4, after an indication given by feeler 8H, for instance, without a corresponding shift of the selector lever 15. The holding circuit H will maintain the 11 solenoid 83 energized until a shuttle changing operation causes roll 19 to close switch 91, whereupon releasing coil 96 will be energized to open the holding circuit. 'Although vibrator lever 66 is normally down and is never raised by a high roll on the chain 30, and therefore need not necessarily be over the latter, I have nevertheless shown it in the same position which a vibrator lever would ordinarily occupy in a Knowles head mechanism built for pick and pick operation, that is, overone of the columns of indicators shown in Fig. 7.

My copending patent application Serial No. 16,064 filed March'20, 1948 shows some of the structure set forth herein, but that application is directed to a bobbin changing loom.

Having thus described my invention it will be seen that changes and modifications may be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, but what I claim is:

1. In a shuttle changing loom, two weaving shuttles which carry distinctive wefts and run pick and pick, a magazine at one end of the loom having two groups of reserve shuttles corresponding to the two weaving shuttles, and means automatically effecting replacement of either weaving shuttle when depleted of weft by a reserve shuttle drawn from the corresponding group of shuttles in the magazine.

2. In a shuttle changing loom provided with a lay and operating with two weaving shuttles carrying different wefts, means causing said shuttles to run pick and pick, a magazine at one end of the loom having two groups of reserve shuttles provided with wefts corresponding to the wefts of the weaving shuttles, and means automatically operative upon depletion of weft in either weaving shuttle to effect movement of a corresponding reserve shuttle from the magazine to the lay.

3. In a shuttle changing loom, two weaving shuttles which carry distinctive wefts and run pick and pick, a magazine adjacent to one end of the loom having two groups of reserve shuttles corresponding to said weaving shuttles, weft detector mechanism to detect the weft in the shuttles, and means controlled by the detector mechanism effecting replacement of either weaving shuttle when the weft thereof is depleted by a corresponding reserve shuttle drawn from the magazine.

4. In a shuttle changing loom operating with two weaving shuttles carrying different types of wefts, means causing said shuttles to run pick and pick, a magazine at one end of th loom having two groups of reserve shuttles corresponding to the weaving shuttles, weft detecting means located at the other end of the loom to detect the condition of weft in said weaving shuttles, and means operative upon depletion of weft in either weaving shuttle and controlled by the detecting means to replace the depleted shuttle when at said one end of the loom with a corresponding reserve shuttle drawn from the magazine.

5. In a shuttle changing loom having a lay reciprocating between front and back center positions and operating with two weaving shuttles carrying different wefts, means causing said shuttles to run pick and pick, a magazine at one end of the loom having two groups of reserve shuttles similar to the weaving shuttles, and means operative upon depletion of weft in either weaving shuttle to replace the latter automatically with a similar reserve shuttle drawn from the magezine when the depleted weaving shuttle is at said one end of the loom and the lay is in back center position.

6. In a shuttle changing loom operating with two weaving shuttles which run pick and pick, a magazine at one end of the loom having two groups of reserveshuttles corresponding to the weaving shuttles, shuttle boxes at the opposite end of the m having two cells, one cell for each weaving shuttle, a weft detector for each cell, means shifting the shuttle boxes in an eight pick cycle in which each detector is capabl of indicating weft exhaustion in the first four picks of the cycle and also in the second four picks of the cycle, control means for the detectors enabling on only of said detectors to indicate weft exhaustion during the said first four picks and enabling the other detector only to indicate weft exhaustion during said second four picks, and means effective upon indication of weft exhaustion by either detector to replace the corresponding weaving shuttle by a similar reserve shuttle drawn from the magazine.

7. In a shuttle changing loom operating with two weaving shuttles which run pick and pick, a magazine at one end of the loom having two groups of reserve shuttles corresponding to the weaving shuttles, shuttle boxes at the opposite end of the loom having two cells, one for each weaving shuttle, a weft detector for each cell, means shifting the shuttle boxes in an eight pick cycle in which each detector is twice capable of detecting the corresponding weaving shuttle, control means for the detectors enabling each detector to indicate weft exhaustion once only during the eight pick cycle, provided the corresponding weaving shuttle is depleted of weft, and means effective upon indication of weft exhaustion by either detector to replace the corresponding weaving shuttle with a similar shuttle drawn from the magazine before the other detector can indicate weft exhaustion.

8. In a shuttle changing loom operating with two weaving shuttles running pick and pick, the loom operating in an eight-pick cycle comprising two successive four-pick sequences, a weft detector for each shuttle, a vibrator lever means which operates once for each four-pick sequence, a controller for said detectors operatively connected to the vibrator lever means depending upon operation of the latter to enable one detector only to indicate 'weft exhaustion during the first four pick sequence and enable the other weft detector only to indicate weft exhaustion during the second four-pick sequence, provided the shuttles being detected by the detectors are depleted of weft, and shuttle changing means eifective upon indication of weft exhaustion by either detector to replac the corresponding weaving shuttle with a corresponding reserve shuttle.

9. In a shuttlechanging loom operating with two shuttles running pick and pick and operating in an eight-pick cycle comprising two successive four-pick sequences, an electric weft detector for each weaving shuttle, pattern mechanism including two vibrator lever means, shuttle changing mechanism including one of said vibrator lever means effective upon indication of weft exhaustion by either detector to replace the corresponding weaving shuttle with a similar reserve shuttle, a solenoid operatively connected to said one vibrator lever means and eifective when energized to cause operation of the shuttle changing mechanism, and the other vibrator lever means being effective to control said detectors 'sponding weaving shuttle, shuttle rnechanism effecting a shuttle change when the and enable one only of said detectors to energize said solenoid during the first four-pick sequence, provided one of said shuttles is depleted of weft, and enable the other weft detector only to energize said solenoid during the second four-pick sequence, provided the other weaving shuttle is depleted of weft.

10. In a shuttle changing loom operating with two shuttles running pick and pick in an eight pick cycle comprising two successive four pick sequences, an electric weft detector for each shuttle, pattern mechanism operating on onepick time, a solenoid energized when either detector indicates weft exhaustionin the correchanging solenoid is energized, and vibrator lever means forming part of said pattern mechanism controlling said detectors and enabling one detector only to indicate weft exhaustion during the first fourpic-k sequence and enabling the other detector only toindicate weft exhaustion during the second four-pick sequence.

11. In a shuttle changing loom operating with two weaving shuttles running pick and pick, the

loom operating in an eight-pick cycle comprising twov successive four-pick sequences, a magazine having two stacks of reserve shuttles corresponding to the two weaving shuttles, a selector for the stacks, a weft detector for each shuttle,

and vibrator lever means operating during each four-pick sequence and effective in the first fourpick sequence to enable one of said detectors only to indicate weft exhaustion and also move the selector to a position corresponding to one of said stacks, said vibrator lever means effective tor to effect registry of the releasers one at a time with the actuator, weft detecting means to detect one of said shuttles when in inactive position during the first sequence and detect the other shuttle when in inactive position during the second sequence, the shuttle boxes shifting to move each shuttle from inactive position to active position on the pick next following the pick on which the shuttle is detected by the detecting means, and means independent of shifting of said shuttle boxes causing the selector to register one of said releasers with the actuator during the first sequence on the pick next following that on which said one shuttle is detected and register the other releaser with the actuator during the second sequence on the pick next following that on which the other shuttle is detected.

13. In a shuttle changing loom operating with two weaving shuttles running pick and pick, a magazine at one end of the loom having two stacks of reserve shuttles corresponding to the weaving shuttles, a shuttle releaser for each stack, an actuator for operating the releasers, a selector movable to register the releasers one at a time with the actuator, a weft detector for during the second four-pick sequence to enable each weaving shuttle, vibrator lever means operatively connected to the. actuator, a second vi 4 brator levermeans causing the selector to change registry of the releasers with the actuator every fourth pick of the loom, control means for said detectors operated by the second vibrator lever means every fourth pick of the loom to enable the detector corresponding, to the releaser registered with the actuator to indicate weft exhaustion,lprovided the shuttle being detected is depleted of weft, and means effective upon indica tion of weft exhaustion by either detector cansingthe first vibrator lever means to operate said actuator. l

14. In ashuttle changing loom operating with two weaving shuttles running pick and pick and provided with shifting shuttle boxes at each end thereof, the loom operating in an eight-pick cycle comprising two successive four-pick se-- quences, a pattern mechanism including four vibrator lever means, a magazine at one end or the loom having two stacks of reserve shuttles corresponding to the weaving shuttles, a weft detector for each weaving shuttle, a shuttle releaser for each stack, an actuator for said releasers registering with the latter one at a time, one of said vibrator lever means causingshifting of the shuttle boxes at the other end of the loom each pick of the eight-pick cycle, the second. vibrator releasers operated by the third vibrator lever means enabling one only of said detectors to in dicate weft exhaustion during the first four-pick sequence and also effecting registry of one of said releasers with said actuator, said control means during the second four-pick sequence enabling the other detector only to indicate weft exhaustion and also effecting registry of the other of said releasers with said actuator, and

means causing the fourth vibrator lever means upon indication of weft exhaustion by either detector to move said actuator to cause the latter to operate the releaser registeredtherewith.

15; In a shuttle changing loom operating in an eight-pick cycle comprising two successive fourpick sequences, the loom operating with two Weaving shuttles and having shifting shuttle boxes at each end thereof, pattern mechanism operating on one-pick time including four vibrator levermeans one of which causes the shuttle boxes at one end of the loom to operate in a given order and the second of which causes the shuttle boxes at the other end of the loom to shift in a different order, a magazine having two stacks of reserve shuttles corresponding to the weaving shuttles, a selector for the magazine movable to either of two positions, the third vibrator lever means eflfecting shifting of the selector from one to another of two positions thereof once for each four-pick sequence, an actuator effective in one position of the selector during one of said sequences to release a reserve shuttle from one of said stacks and effective in the other position of the selector during the other four-pick sequence to release a reserve shuttle from the other stack, the position of the selector being determined by said third vibrator lever means independently of the shifting shuttle boxes or the first and second of the vibrator lever means, and means effective upon indication of 1'5 weft exhaustion causing the fourth vibrator lever means to operate said actuator.

16. In a shuttle changing loom having a magazine provided with two stacks of reserve shuttles, a shuttle releaser for each stack, an actuator for the releasers, head pattern mechanism including vibrator lever means operatively connected to the actuator, selector means to register the releasers, one at a time, with the actuator, other vibrator lever means controlling the selector, and means operative upon an indication of weft exhaustion causing the first vibrator lever means to operate the actuator and cause the latter to move the releaser registered therewith by the selector to effect release of a reserve shuttle from the magazine.

17. In a shuttle changing loom operating in an eight-pick cycle comprising two successive four-pick sequences and having two weaving shuttles running pick and pick, weft detector means for the weaving shuttles, pattern mechanism including a part having a movement each pick of the cycle, a magazine having two stacks of reserve shuttles corresponding to the weaving shuttles, a shuttle releaser for each stack, actuator means for said releasers including vibrator lever means operated by said part of said pattern mechanism, and control means for the vibrator lever means effective on an odd numbered pick in one of said sequences and on an even numbered pick in the other of said sequences, provided indication of weft exhaustion is given by the detector means, to cause said vibrator lever means to operate said actuator means.

18. In a shuttle changing loom operating in an eight-pick cycle comprising two successive fourpick sequences and having two weaving shuttles running pick and pick, a magazine having two stacks of reserve shuttles corresponding to the weaving shuttles, weft detector means capable of indicating weft exhaustion in one of the weaving shuttles on an even pick in said first sequence only and capable of indicating weft exhaustion in the other weaving shuttle on an odd numbered pick in the second sequence only, and means operating in one-pick time controlled by either detector effective on either an odd or an even numbered pick of the cycle to cause the magazine to release a reserve shuttle.

19. In a shuttle changing loom, means effective when moved from the 'normal position thereof to cause a shuttle changing operation, an electric weft detector, a holding circuit closed when the detector indicates weft exhaustion and including a solenoid which is energized when said i,

circuit is closed and remains energized until said circuit is opened, said solenoid when energized moving said means from the normal position thereof, and means controlled by a part of the loom moving incident to a shuttle changing operation to open said holding circuit.

20. In a shuttle changing loom provided with a shuttle box which rises to a high position incident to a shuttle changing operation of the loom, a cover on said shuttle box having a rising movement relatively to the shuttle box when a shuttle changing operation occurs, a solenoid effective when energized to cause a shuttle changing operation, a normally open holding electric circuit for the solenoid, an electric weft detector which when indicating weft exhaustion eifects closure of said holding circuit, and means operating incident to said rising movement of said cover to open said holding circuit.

21. In a shuttle changing loom provided with a shuttle box which rises to a high position incident to a shuttle changing operation of the loom, a cover on said shuttle box having a rising movement relatively to the shuttle box when a shuttle changing operation occurs, vibrator lever means effective when raised to raise said shuttle box to said high position thereof, a solenoid effec tive when energized to raise said vibrator lever means, a normally open holding electric circuit for said solenoid, an electric weft detector effective when indicating weft exhaustion to close said holding circuit to energize said solenoid, and means operating incident to said rising movement of said cover to open said holding circuit.

22. In a shuttle changing loom operating with two weaving shuttles which run pick and pick, a magazine at one end of the loom having two groups of reserve shuttles corresponding to the weaving shuttles, shuttle boxes at the opposite end of the loom having two cells, one for each weaving shuttle, a weft detector for each cell, means shifting the shuttle boxes in an eight pick cycle in which each detector detects the corresponding shuttle once during each half of said cycle, control means for the detectors enabling only one of said detectors to indicate weft exhaustion of one of said shuttles on the second pick of said eight pick cycle, provided said one weaving shuttle is depleted of weft, and enabling the other detector only to indicate weft exhaustion of the other of said shuttles on the seventh pick only of said eight pick cycle, provided said other weaving shuttle is depleted of weft, and means effective upon indication of weft exhaustion by either detector to replace the corresponding weaving shuttle by a similar reserve shuttle drawn from the magazine.

RICHARD G. TURNER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,817,138 Gordon a Aug. 4, 1931 2,054,177 Turner Sept. 15, 1936 2,065,771 Turner Dec. 29, 1936 2,377,102 Payne May 29, 1945 

